New Delhi’s streets could look very different in the coming months after India’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to remove stray dogs, sterilise them, and relocate them permanently to shelters.
In a ruling issued Monday, the court directed the capital’s civic bodies to begin capturing 5,000 stray dogs from “high risk areas” within six to eight weeks, housing them in facilities with adequate staff and CCTV surveillance.
It is unclear how the figure of 5,000 was reached, with estimates of the city’s stray dog population ranging from 500,000 to one million.
While many of the animals are harmless, the move follows a rise in dog bite cases, including attacks on children. Hospital data suggests nearly 2,000 bite incidents occur daily in the capital. “The situation is extremely grim,” the court said, adding that infants and young children “should not at any cost fall prey to stray dogs.”
The court also ordered the creation of a dedicated animal helpline within a week to report bite incidents. It warned that any individual or group obstructing the removal of stray dogs would face strict legal consequences. The animals, once removed, must not be released back onto streets or into residential areas.
Animal rights activists, who had opposed the court’s involvement, were sharply rebuked. “Will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies?” the court asked. Rabies, a fatal viral disease transmitted through bites, remains a serious public health risk in India.
Following the ruling, Delhi state cabinet minister Kapil Mishra welcomed the move, describing it as a step towards freeing the city “from the fear of rabies and stray animals.” He pledged that “special attention will also be given to the comprehensive welfare of stray animals.”
